The 2017 APA Canadian National is now history. It took place on the weekend of October 14 – 15 at the Hassen Arena on the Interior Provincial Exhibition fairgrounds in Armstrong, B.C. The show was organized by the Vernon Pigeon and Poultry Club with club members Heather Hayes and Joe Mazur as co-chairpersons.

There were just over 1100 birds entered in the show with entries coming from Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. Over 60 exhibitors entered birds and it took three judges to perform the honours. Thursday, October 12 was setup day, Friday was coop-in day, and Saturday was the show day with judging starting early at 8:30 am. Friday night soup, sandwiches and snacks were offered to exhibitors after possibly a long day of travelling and at least a busy time prepping birds for the show. Club members were extremely busy from Thursday through Sunday of the show weekend. We are indeed fortunate to have a good group of dedicated hardworking volunteers who helped to make a large show successful and run smoothly.

Saturday evening there was a banquet at the Armstrong golf course clubhouse where 70 guests enjoyed a beef dinner buffet. Following the dinner awards were presented to exhibitors of winning birds. Over $2000 was donated by exhibitors and friends of our club to offer as cash awards. Our major sponsor was Peavey Mart, a chain of stores centered in Alberta, who offered a cash donation that nearly paid for the rent of arena as well as ten $25 gift certificates, feed for the birds and litter for the pens. Our second main sponsor was the township of Spallumcheen which gave a cash donation to help pay for the show.

Heather and Joe did a fine job of chairing the show and they were most ably assisted by many club members. This was the tenth APA Canadian National show and one exhibitor who has attended all of them felt that the Vernon Pigeon and Poultry Club had done an admirable job. As president of our club I’d like to thank all exhibitors, volunteers, judges, sponsors and those members of the general public who came out to see a remarkable array of quality birds!